Traffic Crash / Accident Reports

• Required to Report

• Private Property Crashes

• Emergency Traffic Accident Reporting Program

• Collisions with Unattended Vehicles

Required to Report

Illinois law requires that all drivers, regardless of fault, must file a crash report if involved in a crash that involves death, bodily injury or property damage over $500. The City of Rockford requires all crashes that occur within the city limits, that meet the before mentioned criteria, be reported to the Rockford Police Department. Call 911 to report all crashes involving serious injury, a person trapped in a vehicle, a vehicle fire or any other situation requiring immediate emergency assistance. Call 815-966-2900 to report all crashes not requiring emergency assistance.

Emergency Traffic Accident Reporting Program

If you are involved in a traffic crash and call the police to report it you may be advised that due to a large number of crashes being reported, the Department has enacted The Emergency Traffic Accident Reporting Program. When the Program is in effect a police officer will not respond to or investigate the crash at the scene unless certain circumstances (listed below) exist. When the program is in effect the drivers involved in a traffic crash must exchange personal and vehicle information and file a crash report, within 48 hours, at the Rockford Police Department's front desk located in the lobby of the Winnebago County Public Safety Building (420 W. State St,, Rockford, IL 815-987-5912). Each driver involved in a crash should obtain the following list of information from any other driver involved:

• Name

• Address

• Telephone number

• Driver's license number

• Vehicle insurance company and policy number

• Make, model and license plate number of the vehicle they were driving When you come to the Winnebago County Public Safety Building to file

a report bring the information you obtained from the other driver(s) involved as well as your driver's license, vehicle insurance card and vehicle registration.

A Police Officer will respond and conduct an on scene investigation when any of the following circumstances exist:

• Any vehicle involved in the crash is not drivable

Private Property Crashes

A Police Officer will respond and conduct an investigation on private property when any of the following circumstances exist:

• There is an injury to anyone involved in the crash

• Any driver is under the influence

• The crash is a hit and run

• Any driver does not possess proof of valid insurance

• A reckless driving offense occurred

Collisions with Unattended Vehicles

If you are involved in a crash that causes damage to an unattended vehicle (no driver or passenger is present) or other property:

• Stop your vehicle in an area away from traffic

• Leave your name, address, phone number and license plate number on the vehicle or property if you cannot find the owner

• Write down the make, model and license plate of the unattended vehicle for your records

• Report the crash to the Rockford Police Department by calling the non-emergency number 815-966-2900

• Go to the Rockford Police Department / Winnebago County Public Safety Building (420 W. State St. Rockford, IL 815-987-5912) and file a crash report. Remember to bring the unattended vehicle's information. If you fail to report the crash, you may be fined up to $2,500 and given a jail sentence of up to one year.